Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Heimdall - Aeneid (2013)

Power metal from Italy seems to be a growing scene with
bands such as Rhapsody of Fire, Ancient Bards, and Thy Majestie taking the
genre by storm. There is one band however that doesn’t get the attention they
deserve. Since 1998, Heimdall has been releasing stellar albums. “Lord of the
Sky” and “Temple of Theil” were a little rough around the edges but great
nonetheless. 2002 was the year that the band starting going for the larger
sound. “The Almighty” and “Hard as Iron” improved upon everything the previous
albums did. They were heavier, more melodic and had a much more grand sound. “Hard
as Iron” in particular was an incredible album. It’s been nine years since
“Hard as Iron,” but Heimdall came back and released an absolute masterpiece.
“Aeneid” is ready to take over the Italian power metal scene.

“Aeneid” completely overshadows their other albums. The
musicianship is top notch, the new vocalist (Gandolfo Ferro) adds a whole new
sound and the melodies are breathtaking. “Forced by Fate” has, hands down, one
of the best power metal choruses this year. Other bands wish they could sound
this epic. “Save You” is just as incredible. Most notably, the verse is catchy
as all hell. “Waiting for the Dawn” slows things down a little bit before busting
out a great head banging riff. The keyboard is also a nice touch in the song.
It makes it sound more full and solid. “Ballad of the Queen” and “Funeral Song”
really slow things down. “Ballad of the Queen” is a great acoustic song that
warms the album up a little bit. Putting these two tracks after “Waiting for
the Dawn” was a wise decision. It prevents the album from coming to a complete
standstill. The final note in “Funeral Song” is a perfect transition into
“Underworld” which picks the momentum of the album back up at full force.
“Underworld” has a great chorus and a blistering solo. “Hero” has an amazing
bridge section and the end of the song has the most epic use of choir on the
album. “Night on the World” is by far the best song on the album. It’s the best
power metal song of the year so far period. Everything from the beginning riff
to the piano interlude is pure perfection. Coming after “Night on the World” is
a hard feat for a track but “All of Us” does a great job following up. “Away”
is a great ballad that paves the way for the astounding closing track, “The
Last Act.” The album closes on such a high note, one only hopes that Heimdall
continues the tradition on the next album.

“Aeneid” isn’t just another run-of-the-mill power metal
album. This is the real deal. The amount of work that went into this album is
mind boggling. Nine years was definitely worth the wait. If they continue to
make albums like this, fifteen years wouldn’t seem so bad. Every song has its
place and purpose, and without one of them the album couldn’t function. “Aeneid”
is a milestone. No other power metal band can return from a nine year gap and
deliver the crowning achievement in their career. It just isn’t done. A power
metal album hasn’t been this impressive since Rhapsody’s “Symphony of Enchanted
Lands.” “Aeneid” isn’t just one of the
best power metal albums this year; it’s one of the best of all time.